Complete Works of Hippocrates

...as it is the beginning of the whole art, 3 nor is there a second, 4 nor a middle, 5 nor an end. 6 But we begin from these things, sometimes speaking, sometimes working, and we end in the same manner. 7 And when we begin speaking from the same arguments, 8 even if we say the same things, 9 we do not end in the same [conclusions]. 10 And working according to the same reason, 11 when we begin from the same works, we do not end in the same [results].

IX. Ease and promptness original: "εὐχερείη" are such as these: 2 When someone cutting or cauterizing neither cuts nor cauterizes a nerve, nor a vein. 3 And if he cauterizes a suppuration, he hits the pus. 4 And if he cuts, [he does so] in the same manner. 5 And to set fractures rightly. 6 And whatever part of the body has fallen out of its nature, to push it rightly back into its nature. 7 To take hold of what is necessary, strongly, and while taking hold, to press, 8 and to take hold of what one must [take] quietly, and having taken hold, not to press. 9 And in binding, not to make tortuous [bandages] from straight ones; 10 nor to press where it is not necessary; 11 and in touching, wherever one touches, not to provide greater pain. 12 These, indeed, are [matters of] ease and promptness. 13 But to take hold elegantly with the fingers, 14 whether well or not well, or with long or short [fingers], 16 or to bind well, in all sorts of bandaging, 17 does not lie within the art concerning ease and promptness, but is separate.

X. Whoever becomes suppurated, either in the lung, 2 or in the upper or lower belly, 3 or has tumors, whether in the upper belly or the lower, or in the lung, 4 or internal ulcers, 5 or vomits or spits blood, 6 or has some pain, either in the chest or in the back...

...is the beginning of the whole art, 3 nor is there any second, 4 nor a middle, 5 nor an end. 6 But we begin from it, sometimes speaking, sometimes operating, and we end in the same manner. 7 And we do not begin speaking from the same arguments, 8 even if we speak of the same things, 9 nor do we end in the same [conclusions]. 10 And operating according to the same reason, we neither begin from the same works, nor do we end in the same [conclusions].

IX. But there is ease and promptness in these things. 2 When someone cutting or cauterizing, neither cuts nor cauterizes a nerve, nor a vein. 3 And if he cauterizes a suppuration, he obtains the pus. 4 And if he cuts, [he does so] in the same manner. 5 And to set fractures rightly. 6 And if any part of the body should fall out of its natural state, to push it back rightly into its nature. 7 It is also to take hold strongly of those things which one ought, and while taking hold, to press. 8 And to take hold gently of those things which one ought, and while taking hold, not to press. 9 And in binding, not to make tortuous [bandages] from straight ones, 10 nor to press where one ought not. 11 And in contact, wherever one happens to touch, not to provide pain beyond what is necessary. 12 These things indeed exist as [matters of] ease and promptness. 13 But to touch gracefully with the fingers, 14 whether rightly or not rightly, 15 or with long or short [fingers], 16 or to bind all bandages rightly, 17 is not judged to pertain to the art regarding ease and promptness, but is separate.

X. Whoever becomes suppurated [in] the lung, 2 or in the upper or lower belly, 3 or has tumors, whether in the upper or lower belly, or in the lung, 4 or internal ulcers, 5 or vomits or spits blood, 6 or...